Transparent paving tile structure

ABSTRACT

A transparent paving tile structure having at least one closed gap therein partially filled of fluid and arranged to provide continuously moving images.

United States Patent Facchini Aug. 12, 1975 TRANSPARENT PAVING TILESTRUCTURE 3,048,075 8/ 1962 Wright 272/8 P 3,387,396 6 1968 S 272 8 DInventor: Bltuno Facchini, Vlale PaSUblO 3, D M118", Italy 3,464,1329/1969 Matisse. 272/8 D 3,564,740 2/1971 Calfee.... 40/1062] [22] 1969R5,649 11/1873 Bush 272/8 P [21] Appl. No.: 877,412

Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh [30] Foreign Application Priority DataAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Guido Modiano; Albert Nov. 26, 1968 Italy24190/68 Josif [52] US. Cl 52/311; 272/8 D [51] Int. Cl. G09f 3/00; G09113/34 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 52/311; 161/5, 18;

272 p 8 40/106 21 A transparent paving tile structure having at leastone closed gap therein partially filled of fluid and arranged 5 Ref re eCited to provide continuously moving images.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1957 Flam .1 161/18 1 Claim, 6 Drawing FiguresPATENTED E 1 2 i 75 SHEET PATENYED AUG 1 2 i875 SHEET TRANSPARENT PAVINGTILE STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relatesto a transparent paving tile structure arranged to provide continuouslymoving images visible by looking through the structure.

The main object of the present invention is that of providing a pavingtile which is able of creating moving images, continuously randomchanging and this without making use of any device whatsoever involvingthe provision of a motion source of conventional kind, but merely takingadvantage of the physic characteristics of certain substances. I

Another object of this invention is that the said paving tile may bemanufactured at a very low cost from readily available materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects which will betterappear hereinbelow are attained by a transparent paving tile structureaccording to the invention, including the improvement wherein saidstructure consists of at least one pair of substantially transparentplate-like elements which are jointed to one another in a manner such asto define therebetween a closed gap which is partially filled with atleast one viscous fluid in which a number of various elements aresuspended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS With reference to the above Figures, the structuresaccording to the invention consist of a paving tile obtained by joiningtogether two transparent plate elements 1 and 2 suitably made ofplastics material, preferably tight-sealed to one another to define aclosed gap or interspace. To this end the opposite faces of the plates 1and 2 are suitably recessed except along a limited peripheral portionthus resulting in the gap being wider.

Such gap is partially filled with a viscous fluid in such a way as airbubbles are formed therein. The portion of gap filled of fluid isindicated at 3, while the bubbles are given the reference number 4. Inthe fluid elements 5 are suspended, which are of any nature. Thus perexample they could be opaque or transparent and preferably, although notnecessarily, coloured.

It should be noted that by looking through the paving tile thusobtained, for reasons explained later on the air bubbles will be seen toslowly ascend upwards according to a random movement. Thus per examplethe air bubbles can be split and then combined again while moving. Thismovement which is transmitted to the whole material in the gap is alsogiven to the elements 5 which are caused to random move. The movementcaused within the gap is approximately similar to that of the elementarparticles in a cell since the particle movements are completelyrandomsome and free.

Preferential paths can also be provided within the gap for the movingparticles.

According to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 the opposite plate elementsare more then two. Between each pair of adjacent surfaces (indicated at6,7,8 and 9) a gap is formed containing a liquid and particles suspendedtherein. By looking through the packet of plate elements a compositeeffect is obtained which is due to, say, the elementar effects describedabove.

Of course it is convenient that the liquids in each gap has differentviscosity rate besides colours so that the ascending movement of theparticles in each gap occurs at different speed.

The above described structure is used in the form of paving tiles, asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In this case the movement of the particles and air bubbles 4 and 5within the liquid 3 is due to the load acting on the tiles. When aperson treads or steps on a tile, the latter is given a stress in thedirection of arrows 10. Since the material which the plate elementsconsist of is slightly resilient, the stress causes a slight deformationof such elements, which is transmitted to the gap. The liquid, the airbubbles and the particles are thus caused to move due to the effect ofthe stress in the direction of the arrows 10. The effects due to suchmovements, while being enhanced by means of a light source placed belowthe plane containing the tiles, are equally visible even when such lightsource is not provided.

1. A paving tile having two parallel spaced apart walls joined at theiredges to define a closed interspace therebetween, a viscous liquidpartially filling said interspace and containing air bubbles therein,said walls being made of transparent resilient material there by toallow, upon treading, deformation thereof causing a random movement ofsaid bubbles.

1. A paving tile having two parallel spaced apart walls joined at theiredges to define a closed interspace therebetween, a viscous liquidpartially filling said interspace and containing air bubbles therein,said walls being made of transparent resilient material there by toallow, upon treading, deformation thereof causing a random movement ofsaid bubbles.